Supporting structures and methods of making them

ABSTRACT

A supporting structure comprises longitudinal rods and transverse straight rods interconnecting the longitudinal rods. The transverse straight rods are constituted by two systems of helically wound wires, and each of the systems comprises at least two wires of the same cross sectional shape. The wires of one system are wound in one direction while the wires of the other system are wound in the opposite direction. The resulting helically wound wires are united with the longitudinal rods at the crossings between the rods and the wires.

[111 3,798,864 [451 Mar. 26, 1974 United States Patent [191 Georgii Zellweger Hammel SUPPORTING STRUCTURES AND 3 6 732 899 Ill 2200 l 585 420 ,5 5 4 499 ,5 ll

METHODS OF MAKING THEM Hans Christer Georgii, Stockholm, Sweden [75] Inventor:

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: Borghild Georgii, Geneva,

Switzerland Germany 22 Fl (1: O t. 13, 1971 l l l e c Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Assistant Examiner-Carl D. Friedman [2]] Appl. No.: 188,735

Attorney, Agent, or FirmKarl W. Flocks [57] ABSTRACT A supporting structure comprises longitudinal rods and transverse straight rods interconnecting the longim P n tudinal rods. The transverse straight rods are constituted by two systems of helically wound wires, and each of the systems comprises at least two wires of the same cross sectional shape. The wires of one system 30 8 2 R3 M5 1 5 SH 3 m 5 2 6 5 u" 5 TM m n "n 4 "H m mmh "NC ..r "a H H ll I10 5d SLd UmF w l ed 555 [56] References Cited are wound in one direction while the wires of the UNITED STATES PATENTS othersystemare wound'in the opposite direction. The resultmg helically wound wires are united with the longitudinal rods at the crossings between the rods and the wires.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Uchiyama Partridge rum mu on a Mv 0870 7237 9999 HHHH 3630 0825 287 v 552 0773 1 3 23 SUPPORTING STRUCTURES AND METHODS OF MAKING THEM This invention relates to a supporting structure comprising longitudinal rods and transverse straight rods interconnecting the longitudinal rods. The invention has for its object to provide a supporting structure in which the transverse straight rods are constituted by two systems of helically wound wire's, each of said systems comprising at least two wires of the same cross sectional shape and the wires of one system being wound in one direction while the wires of the other system are wound in the opposite direction, and in which the helically wound wires are united with the longitudinal rods at the crossings between the longitudinal rods and the wires. The supporting structure according to the present invention which includes several oppositely directed helices thus constitutes a statically determinate system and implies great advantages primarily in point of production, compared to supporting structures in which the transverse rods to a major or minor extent are formed by separate units.

According to an important characteristic feature of the invention the wires of one system are arranged outwardly of the longitudinal rods of the supporting structure while the wires of the other system are arranged, inwardly of the longitudinal rods of the supporting structure. At continuous production this arrangement implies a simple-feed because the oppositely directed helices cannot interlock. In certain cases, however, all of the wires in the two systems can be arranged outwardly or inwardly of the longitudinal rods of the supporting structure.

The number of wires in the two systems is dependent on the configuration of the section as well as the desired effective length thereof. If the section of the supporting structure determined by the longitudinal rods is square, the two systems of helically wound wires shall each include two wires to provide a statically determinate system. If further wires are arranged the effective lengths of the sections can be reduced by interconnecting the wires at the crossings. If the section of the supporting structure determined by the longitudinal rods is triangular, the two systems of helically wound wiresv shall each include three wires to provide a statically de-. terminate system. In certain cases, however, one of said wires may be dispensed with. For a reduction of the effective lengths of the sections the systems can each include five or seven wires. I

The invention also relates to a method of making the supporting structure described in the foregoing. This method comprises advancing longitudinal rods and those helically wound wires in an extended state, which are to b arranged inwardly of the longitudinal rods, through a magazine or the manufacturing station for those helically wound wires which are to be arranged outwardly of the longitudinal rods, moving the helically wound wires of the two systems and the longitudinal rods successively into position with the aid of templates, and establishing the connection between the helically wound wires and the longitudinal rods.

The invention will be more fully described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate some embodiments, chosen by way of example, of the supporting structure as well as some machines for making it.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are perspective views showing the design of the supporting structure in one embodiment thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the supporting structure;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the supporting structure in another embodiment thereof;

FIG. 6 is a developed plan view of the supporting structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross section of the supporting structure in a prestressed embodiment thereof;

FIG. 8 is a view of the supporting structure partially embedded in a concrete slab or'plastics panel;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of one machine for making the supporting structure;

FIG. 10 is a section of said machine;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of another machine for making the supporting structure.

The supporting structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is of square section and comprises four longitudinal rods 1 to 4 located at the corners of the section and united with transverse rods. These transverse rods are constituted by two systems of helically wound wires 5 to 8. The wires 5 to 6 of one system are wound in one direction while the'wires 7 to 8 of the other system are wound in the opposite direction. The resulting helically wound wires 5 to 8 are connected with the longitudinal wires 1 to 4 at the crossings between said rods and said wires.

As will appear from the drawings the helically wound wires 5 to 8 in the two-systems are connected with the longitudinal rods at coinciding points.

The wires 5 and 6 of one system are arranged outwardly of the longitudinal rods [to 4 of the supporting structure, while the wires 7 and8 of the other system are arranged inwardly of said longitudinal rods. The helices are given such a cross sectional shape as to fixedly retain the longitudinal rods I to 4 between them at the corners.

FIG. 1 shows the four longitudinal rods 1 to,4 and the helically wound wire 5. FIG. 2 shows the four longitudinal rods l to 4 and the helically wound wires 5 and 6 which together constitute one system. FIG. 3 shows the entire supporting structure supplemented with the helically wound wires 7 and 8 which together constitute the other system and thus are oppositely directed to the helically wound wires 5 and 6.

The supporting structure illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is of triangular cross sectional shape and is formed by the longitudinal rods 11 to. 13 located the corners of the section, and by the helically wound wires 14 to 19. Of these wires, wires 14 to 16 are wound in one direction while wires 17 to 19 are wound in the opposite direction, which will clearly appear from FIG. 6 by the different showing of the wires.

In FIG. 7 the supporting structure is prestressed with the aid of prestressing wires 20 which are guided between the helically wound wires arranged inwardly and outwardly of the longitudinal rods. In FIG. 8 the supporting structure is shown partially embedded in a concrete slab or plastics panel.

Normally, the supporting structure will be made from steel but other materials such as aluminium are also useful.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a machine for making the supporting structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The machine has a production belt for advancing rods 1 to 4 which are successively joined together with fresh rods from the supply 21. 22 designates a buffer store for the a cutting operation is relatively seldom performed since the wires 5 to 8 in a pack will suffice for a plurality of supporting structures. The wires 5 to 8 are then pulled out and exactly oriented with respect to the rods 1 to 4 before welding is carried out. The welding unit 23 shown in section in FIG. 11 is so arranged that the welding heat at each welding point between rods 1 to 4 and wires 5 to 8 will be the same. The welding heat is symmetrically balanced. After welding, the finished supporting structure is cut to suitable lengths by means of a precision cutting knife 24. The resulting supporting structures are transferred to the buffer store 25.

The machine shown in FIG. 11 is intended for allautomatic production. The feed of the rods 1 to 4 is here performed over four separate stations 26 including reels and straightening tools. Where heavier dimensions are concerned, this feed is replaced by continuous joining rod by rod.

In this machine the helically wound wires 5 to 8 are wound in a pair of units 27 and 28 which may be of the construction more fully described in Swedish Pat. specification No. 145,928. The winding unit 27 for the inner wires 7 and 8 thus comprises a movable rotary unit having a number of reels and straightening tools and a stationary unit with a head about which the wires 7 and 8 are wound.

At 29 the helically wound wires 7 and 8 are stretched to realize a reduction of their section and to permit their passage through the shaft of the winding unit 28. The rods 1 to 4 are collected by a series of rollers 30 to realize their corresponding passage.

The winding unit for the outer wires 5 and 6 is constructed in the same way as the unit 27 for the inner wires 7 and 8, but has the opposite direction of rotation. After the winding unit 28 the machine illustrated in FIG. 11 is designed in the same way as that illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above and illustrated in thedrawing but can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by letters patent is:

l. A supporting structure comprising longitudinal rods and transverse straight rods interconnecting the longitudinal rods, wherein the transverse straight rods are constituted by two systems of helically wound wires, each of said systems comprising at least two wires of the same cross-sectional shape with the wires of one system being wound in one direction and disposed outwardly of the longitudinal rods of the support structure while the wires of the other system are wound in the opposite direction and disposed inwardly of the longitudinal rods of the support structure, with each inwardly disposed wire including portions cooperating with portions of an outwardly disposed wire to define a generally transverse unit connecting said longitudinal rods, and said inwardly and outwardly disposed wires also including portions extending diagonally between transverse connecting units in connected relationship with pairs of said longitudinal rods whereby the helically wound wires are united with the longitudinal rods at the crossings between the longitudinal rods and the wires.

2. A supporting structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the helically wound wires in the two systems are connected to the longitudinal rods at coinciding points. i

3. A supporting structure as defined claim 1, wherein the section of the supporting structure determined by the longitudinal rods is square, and the two systems of helically wound wires include at least two wires each.

4. A supporting structure as defined claim 1 wherein the section of the supporting structure determined by the longitudinal rods is triangular, and the two systems of helically wound wires include at least three wires each. 5; A supporting structure as defined claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is prestressed with the aid of one or more longitudinally extending clamped wires.

6. A method of making a supporting structure which comprises longitudinal rods and transverse straight rods interconnecting the longitudinal rods, said transverse straight rods being constituted by two systems of helically wound wires, each of said systems comprising at least two wires of the same cross sectional shape and the wires of one system being wound in one direction and arranged outwardly of the longitudinal rods of-the supporting structure while the wires of the other system are wound in the opposite direction and arranged in-' wardly of the longitudinal rods of the supporting structure, and the helically wound wires being united with the longitudinal wires at the crossings between the longitudinal rods and the wires, said method comprising advancing longitudinal rods and those helically wound wires in an extended state, which are to be arranged inwardly of the longitudinal rods, through a magazine or the manufacturing station for those helically wound wires which are to be arranged outwardly of the longitudinal rods, successively positioning the helically wound wires in the two systems and the longitudinal rods with the aid of templates, and establishing connection between the helically wound wires and the longitudinal rods. 

1. A supporting structure comprising longitudinal rods and transverse straight rods interconnecting the longitudinal rods, wherein the transverse straight rods are constituted by two systems of helically wound wires, each of said systems comprising at least two wires of the same cross-sectional shape with the wires of one system being wound in one direction and disposed outwardly of the longitudinal rods of the support structure while the wires of the other system are wound in the opposite direction and disposed inwardly of the longitudinal rods of the support structure, with each inwardly disposed wire including portions cooperating with portions of an outwardly disposed wire to define a generally transverse unit connecting said longitudinal rods, and said inwardly and outwardly disposed wires also including portions extending diagonally between transverse connecting units in connected relationship with pairs of said longitudinal rods whereby the helically wound wires are united with the longitudinal rods at the crossings between the longitudinal rods and the wires.
 2. A supporting structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the helically wound wires in the two systems are connected to the longitudinal rods at coinciding points.
 3. A supporting structure as defined claim 1, wherein the section of the supporting structure determined by the longitudinal rods is square, and the two systems of helically wound wires include at least two wires each.
 4. A supporting structure as defineD claim 1 wherein the section of the supporting structure determined by the longitudinal rods is triangular, and the two systems of helically wound wires include at least three wires each.
 5. A supporting structure as defined claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is prestressed with the aid of one or more longitudinally extending clamped wires.
 6. A method of making a supporting structure which comprises longitudinal rods and transverse straight rods interconnecting the longitudinal rods, said transverse straight rods being constituted by two systems of helically wound wires, each of said systems comprising at least two wires of the same cross sectional shape and the wires of one system being wound in one direction and arranged outwardly of the longitudinal rods of the supporting structure while the wires of the other system are wound in the opposite direction and arranged inwardly of the longitudinal rods of the supporting structure, and the helically wound wires being united with the longitudinal wires at the crossings between the longitudinal rods and the wires, said method comprising advancing longitudinal rods and those helically wound wires in an extended state, which are to be arranged inwardly of the longitudinal rods, through a magazine or the manufacturing station for those helically wound wires which are to be arranged outwardly of the longitudinal rods, successively positioning the helically wound wires in the two systems and the longitudinal rods with the aid of templates, and establishing connection between the helically wound wires and the longitudinal rods. 